St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-25
THE FIRST MINNEAPOLIS DEPOT.

THE FIRST MINNEAPOLIS DEPOT.
the corner of Washington and Fourth
avenues north. Next the Breckenridge
division, surveyed by George W. Cooley
in 1864. and finished in 1871; then came
the financial crash which threw the
road into the hands of j. r. Farley as
receiver, and its absorption by the st.
Paul. Minneapolis d Manitoba Railway
company, organized with George
Stephen, president; II. B. AdguS, vice
president; J. J. Hill, general manager,
in 1879. From this point its advance
ment has been unchecked and to-day it
has trackage of 2,6S5.44 miles, while
its system covers Northern and Western
Minnesota and North Dakota. penetrat-
ing even to Montana. Not only that,
but through its inStrumentality in 1885
the union railway station, costing $780,,
600, was erected. which is used jointly
by the Wisconsin Central, Burlington
d Northern, the Minnesota d North
western, Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis
d Omaha and st. Paul Il Duluth. The
enlargement of its yards and switching
facilities has kept pace with the general
increase of business.
THE MILWAUKEE ENTRY.
The next road to come to Minneap-
oils was what is now the Iowa IL Mime
sofa division of the Chicago, Milwaukee
q st. Paul. then the Minneapolis d
Cedar Valley, afterwards the Minnesota
Central railroad. The first depot was that
old wooden shed which stands opposite
the Falls hotel, on Seventh street south.
Trains formerly came to the city by the
way of Mendoza, but in 1850 the double
track short line to st. Paul was con-
structed, which included the building of
the iron bridge three miles below the
fallS anA thn thn
with the Hastings IL Dakota road was
made.
In 1870 W. D. Washburn, II. T. Wells,
the SiddellS, Capt. John Martin and
others conceived the idea of running
line to Albert Lea to connect with the
Chicago, Burlington d Northern, and
within a year tWenty-Seven miles of
track were laid to Merriam Junction
The balance of the read was completed
in 1877, distance of 108mileS. The en-
terprlse was aided materially by the cit
liens of Minneapolis, who subscribed
$3.50, 900, liberal sum for even these
days of prosperity. Thus the Minneap-
oils d St. Louis, now a part of the
great Rock Island system sprang into
existence, and has contributed its share
to the city's prosperity. Its inStru-
mentality in securing the establishment
in connection with the Northern Pacific
of another bridge, and the addition of a
third short line between the Twin Cities
is we'll known, while its extensive car
shops have proven an important addi-
ton to manufacturing interests.
To pass over the ground still more
rapidly and emitting the mOnOtony of
detail, the st. Paul & Duluth was
opened for traffic in 1911. The Northern
Pacific extended its line from Brainerd
10 Duluth, and next ran INTO the city
from Northern Pacific junction. The
Omaha came from Hudson to st. Paul,
and then to Minneapolis, building
through to ElrOy and connecting with
the Northwestern. The Minneapolis Il
Eastern railroad was a local improve
ment of Importance completed in 1879.
Within the past two years came the
Minnesota d Northwestern. which has
recently changed its name to the Chi
cagO, st. Paul Il Kansas City, the Wis
consin Central. and the Chicago, Bur
lington IL Northern.
THE 800" SYSTEM.
The completion of the 800" system a
weelI ago is triumph unequaled in the
annals of railroad building. The system
embraces the Sault Ste. Marie g. Allan
tic, running 4 distance of 465 miles from
Minneapolis to connect with the Cana
dian Pacific by bridge over the st.
Mary's river. Although the work was
begun but two years ago, the last
rail was laid Dee. IA, and trains are now
running over its full line. This brings
Minneapolis 2l0 miles nearer to Port
land, Me-, and as near European points
as Chicago. The Minneapolis & Pacific,